Capezio Dance Shoes

Capezio dance shoes have been helping dancers of all levels and ages get the most out of their footwear for years. These dance shoes are also a great choice of brand for any dancer, whether for your first dance class or your final performance night.

The Start of Capezio Dance Shoes

Capezio was founded by Salvatore Capezio in 1887. Working as a cobbler, the then 17 year old opened up a shop near the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. He called himself the "Theatrical and Historical Shoemaker", and his business strictly consisted of repairing theatrical shoes.

Developing a good rapport with his customers, he once created an emergency pair of shoes for a dancer. This paved his transition into shoemaking. Capezio especially enjoyed making pointe shoes, and in the design of these shoes he realized that he'd truly found his calling.

Mr. Capezio gained the praise of dancers all over the world, and even ended up marrying a dancer. Capezio dance shoes became a family run business, that grew to be an international success by the 1930s. Today, Capezio's line includes the best commercial jazz, tap, and ballet shoes, but Capezio also offers ice skates and the same custom shoemaking for professional companies that originated in that small storefront over a hundred years ago. Capezio is now owned by Ballet Makers Incorporated.

Jazz Shoes

Capezio dance shoes come in a wide variety, but jazz shoes are one of their biggest draws. When purchasing jazz shoes, there are a lot of things to consider. The first step is to decide what type of jazz shoe you want to buy. Traditionally, jazz shoes are made with leather soft soles, however you can also purchase the more durable jazz sneaker. These shoes come with laces but they can also be purchased with elastic sides for quick changes during performances. Coming in both black and tan, Capezio jazz dance shoes can be used for not only jazz class, but for lyrical dance as well.

When trying on jazz shoes, your fit should be similar to ballet shoes. The fit should not be extremely tight, but purchasing Capezio dance shoes with a lot of extra room in them is unwise and will affect your performance.

When you are fitted for any kind of jazz shoe, be sure to try a few of your dance steps in them and see what the shoe's "give" is like. Comfort and support are key when it comes to buying your own pair of Capezio dance shoes.

Ballet Shoes

Ballet shoes come in both canvas and leather. Leather is by far the preferred type, as it is more durable and also can keep your feet warmer in a cold studio. However, unlike canvas, every piece of leather is unique and so two identical pairs of shoes can have a different feel on the dancer's foot. This can be frustrating and causes some dancers to switch to the canvas variety. Men and heavier dancers also prefer canvas shoes, as they are less likely to stick and rub off on the dance floor.

Ballet shoes also come in either split sole or full sole. Many ballet instructors will prefer students to have the full sole shoe, as the shank is most similar to that found in the pointe shoe; making it an excellent training shoe. However, many also prefer the split sole as it allows for a stronger arch.

Capezio dance shoes have gone a step further by offering a "demi pointe" ballet shoe. This is simply a boxed pointe shoe with no shank. Some instructors have protested that this shoe does not help a student to learn, while some professional companies and studios prefer to use the demi pointe with their advanced students. This decision is all up to teacher discretion and personal preference.

Pointe Shoes

Out of all the Capezio dance shoes, the pointe shoe should have the snuggest fit. This does not mean that your toes should be crowded together or have too much space on the sides, but rather, your feet should feel supported and properly enclosed.

It is never recommended that you purchase pointe shoes on the Internet, as fittings must be exact. Pay a visit to your local Capezio dance theatre shop and have your feet sized professionally. Again, be fitted by your teacher before sewing on any ribbons or elastics. Your instructor may disagree with the fitting, requiring you to return the shoes. Keep them in as pristine of a condition as possible until you're sure they are the shoes for you.